MINEX Eurasia’25: Beyond Rare Earths: The Next Frontier in Strategic Materials

As the world transitions to clean energy and advanced manufacturing, securing critical materials beyond rare earths has become a pressing concern. On 1 December at the 13^th MINEX Eurasia Conference in London, Samridhi Shoor, CEO & Director of Aegion, an advanced materials company, led a fireside chat on this critical topic.

The fireside chat focused on the importance of securing critical materials beyond rare earths as industries transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Samridhi Shoor, CEO & Director of Aegion, an advanced materials company, discussed next-generation materials like graphene-based composites and high entropy alloys, and how they redefine supply chains.

Shoor emphasised the need for strategic independence and innovation in the material ecosystem. Aegion has been working on substitution and recycling, aiming to make critical materials non-critical by developing abundant chemistries. They have been utilising elements like iron, nitrogen, and aluminium as replacements for rare earth minerals.

Shoor highlighted the challenges of mining, including environmental concerns and geopolitical supply chain risks. However, he emphasised that the market is moving towards iron, manganese, and aluminium as replacements for critical minerals like cobalt.

Aegion has been diversifying its supply chain and has initiated discussions with potential partners. Shoor stated that the company is open to sharing its research and innovations with the community, aiming to benefit the industry at large.

The conversation touched on various topics, including:

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• The importance of abundant chemistries and their potential to replace rare earth minerals
• The challenges of mining and the need for sustainable and responsible practices
• The role of recycling and substitution in reducing dependence on critical minerals
• Aegion’s initiatives in developing new super alloys and recycling mandates
• The EU Act on critical minerals and the need for diversified supply chains

Key Takeaways:

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• The transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing requires securing critical materials beyond rare earths.
• Aegion is working on substitution and recycling to make critical materials non-critical.
• The market is moving towards iron, manganese, and aluminium as replacements for critical minerals like cobalt.
• Aegion is open to sharing its research and innovations with the community to benefit the industry at large.
• The EU Act on critical minerals and the need for diversified supply chains are critical factors in the industry’s future.